Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. JACKSON.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 339,782. Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. W. JACKSON.

GAR OOUPLING.

4 Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

ASE

UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN \V. JACKSON, OF NORTH HAVERHILL, NEXV HAMPSHIRE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,782, dated April 13, 1886.

Application filed September 24, 1885. Serial No. 177,973.

To all'zchom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN WV. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Haverhill, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OarCouplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved appliances for supporting and guiding the link and adjusting the coupling-pin of ordinary car-couplings from either side of a car without rendering it necessary for a train-hand to pass in between the cars when connecting the same.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby this result may be attained without necessitating the removal of the coupling appliances now in common use.

My invention consists in details of construction fully described below,and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents the ends of two cars as when approaching and in readiness to couple together automatically. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a car with its couplingpin and link-lifter in their normal positon. Fig. 3 is a detached side elevation of one of the wheel-segments. Fig. 4 is a back edge view of the same. Fig. 5 represents one of my improved lifters as when in the proper position to support and guide a link, and Fig. 6

is an elevation of the same as when dropped to its normal position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of one of my improved loopbearings for supporting the lifter, and Fig. 8 is a plan thereof.

The draw-bars A represent those which are at the present time in common use upon freight-cars. These are provided with an ordinary link and pin, respectively B and O. In order to avoid the necessity of guiding the link and adjusting the pin by hand, when it is desired to couple two cars which are approaching each other, I provide a lifter, D,

V which may be made of a wrought-iron rod bent in the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The ends of said lifter-rod may be bent at right angles, as at d, said bent ends serving the purpose of cranks by which the lifter may be operated, or suitable cast-iron cranks, d, as shown in Fig. 1, may be secured thereon, if desired.

(No model.)

In order that the lifter may come in contact with or take hold of a link near its outer end, as seen in one of the cars shown in Fig. 1, and yet not be in danger-of being broken or bent when two draw-bars come together, suitable bearings, E, are secured underneath a car at either side andnear either end thereof. These are preferably formed of round iron bent in the form of a staple, one end being left longer than the other, and both ends being placed within the mold from which the iron platepiece E is cast. This affords a cheap and effective means of connecting the two parts firmly together. The plate E is provided on either side of the loop E with slots e, through which fastening-bolts G may pass and by which said bearings may be adj ustably secured in position. Thus, if the lifter be held up while supporting and guiding alink until it is struck by the draw-barof an approaching car, itis simply pushed back in the loop-bearings E, by which it is supported near either end, and no damage is done.

Each coupling-pin O is connected byalight chain, II, to a wheel-segment, I, which is mounted upon and rigidly secured to a transverse rod,J, hung in suitable bearings fastened to the end of a car the proper height from the floor thereof. \Veighted cranks or levers K are provided ateither end ofsaid rod,by which it may be rotated. The chain H rests within the circumferential groove 2', formed in the periphery of the wheel-segment I, the circular portion of which is long enough to carry or wind the chain H a limited distance-i. 6., to raise a .couplingpin, C, in a draw-bar far enough to clear a link, B, and yet not so far but that its lower end may still remain in the upper part of said drawbar, this limit in either direction being clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The object of the weighted cranks or levers K at either end of the rod Jis to slightly overbalance the weight of the wheel-segment I and coupling-pin G when in the position seen on right-hand car, Fig. 1, the increased weight of said levers J over said parts I and 0 being simply sufficient to retain said parts in the position last named under ordinary circumstances, but not so great as to preventa coupling-pin, G, from dropping to its normal position by the concussion produced by two cars coming together.

The wheel-segment I may be weighted, as seen at t" of the drawings, if desired, and thus save some weight in the levers K.

In order to describe the manner of operating my improved mechanism, let us suppose the left-hand car, Fig. 1, to be standing, and the righthand car to be in motion. A trainhand has placed his left hand upon the crank d and raised the lifter D in a position to support the link B at the proper elevation. The coupling-pin O of the approaching car is raised to the limit of its upward movement, so the draw-bar of said moving car is in readiness to receive the link on the standing car, and as soon as the two draw-bars come together the said coupling-pin drops to its lower position I within the draw-bar. Thetrain-hand orbrakeman can then remove his hand from the crank d and the cars are coupled. If the said coupling-pin on the approaching oar shall have with his right hand push the crank Kof the approaching car, and thus raise said couplingpin before the cars come together.

Having described myinventiomwhatlclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. The combination, with the litter D, having a central bend and a crank, d, of the inclined loop. E, permitting the lifter to slide back and supporting the same, the slotted fastening-plate G, and the link B, asset forth.

0, of the chain H, the segment I, havin groove i and weight i, the rock-shaft J, an weighted cranks K K, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my-signatnre in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. JACKSON.

Witnesses:

J. B. THURSTON, ISAAC W. HAMMOND.

2. The combination, with the coup'l-ing-pin.

been accidentally dropped, the brekeman may 

